Fifth Saturday of Lent

It is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.

Caiaphas says this to the Sanhedrin as a matter of practicality, however, as the gospel points out he did not say this on his own. God put the words in his mouth as a prophecy. Caiaphas convinces the others to sacrifice Jesus for the good of the Jewish people. The prophecy, on the other hand, means Jesus is being sacrificed for all of God’s children: Jewish and Gentile. We should keep in mind this all encompassing sacrifice when we deal with our family, friends, and neighbors, especially those we find most difficult to love. The Sanhedrin found Jesus difficult to get along with so they killed him. We might not kill someone physically, but our words and actions (or inaction) toward them can kill them spiritually. This is why Jesus’ sacrifice is so important. He dies not just for saints, but for sinners. He gives us an example of putting aside our hurt feelings and doing the right, good, and loving thing, even to our enemies.

Who in our lives is the most difficult to deal with? Have we tried to reconcile with them? If we have and they still rebuke us, then what can we do to love them in spite of their dislike for us and our dislike for them?

O Lord, let us die to ourselves so that your people might live.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Lent

I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?

We should not expect ticker tape parades when we do the right thing or when we love people as we ought to. Instead, we should expect to be persecuted for these actions. If we go about life in this way, then when people show gratitude, we will be all the more thankful for it. However, if they show us hatred, then we have only received the same as Jesus and who are we to seek more than that? When we start believing we deserve to be treated better, or to be loved by others, and start thinking why can’t people love us as we love them… that is not the voice of charity speaking, but the voice of selfishness. We deserve nothing from God or others. What they give to us is all gain and we should not be so ungrateful as to ask for more.

Have we ever been charitable toward someone and had it thrown back into our face? Did we ever reconcile with that person? How can we learn to be thankful for what we have and not greedy for more?

O Lord, inspire us to do good works without thought of repayment by anyone but you.

Amen.

Fifth Thursday of Lent

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.

Death is something we all must face, but the death Jesus is talking about is not our physical death, but rather our spiritual one at the hands of our sins. When we commit mortal sin, we kill our relationship with God. We cut ourselves off from God and become like the mob who wants to stone Jesus. Thankfully, God is always waiting there for us to reconcile with Him. We do this by confessing our sins in the sacrament of penance and accepting God’s mercy within our contrite hearts. If we seek and accept God’s forgiveness we are given life, but if we do not do these things we remain dead. So let us keep Jesus’ word and make it flesh in us so that we might be the beloved and living children of God.

What sins do we allow to kill our relationship with God? How can we foster a contrite and mercy-accepting heart? How do we go about keeping the word of God?

O Lord, we want to keep your word and live forever with you.

Amen.

Fifth Tuesday of Lent

You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world.

Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. Together they form the Holy Trinity and it is to these three persons in one God that we should belong, not the world. It is easy for us to be caught up in worldly things. They are right in front of us. We can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch them. God, however, is seemingly invisible to us. We only believe He is there through our faith, hope, and love. We do not know for certain, but we trust He is there. To belong to what is above requires a leap of faith, a hopeful persistence, and an enduring love that is willing and able to dedicate itself to the unseen.

What are the worldly things in our lives that we belong to? What are the heavenly ones we need to attach ourselves to? How do we remind ourselves that God is with us?

O Lord, we want to belong to what is above. We want to belong to you.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Lent

Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.

We are all sinners and deserve to be punished, but it is not up to us to judge others and find them guilty or innocent. Neither should we stand idly by and condone the evils we see. Instead we are called to condemn the sin and love the sinner. This is not always our first instinct.  However, we must learn to foster this habit of merciful justice if we are to learn to love our family, friends, and neighbors as we ought to.

Who have we condemned in our lives? Who have we condoned? How can we cultivate merciful justice in our lives without being judgmental or liaise-faire?

O Lord, we are sinners remind us not to cast stones of condemnation at others, but rather offer them words of mercy.

Amen.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Dying to self is hard to do, but this is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do. There are so many things in this world which we can do, so many temptations to deny, so many acts of mercy to perform. When we fall into temptation we choose to plant the seed of our soul in a dark place where the Light of Truth does not shine and we fail to grow spiritually. However, if we love God with all our hearts, bodies, minds, and strengths and our neighbor as ourselves, then we die to ourselves and bear much fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us choose self-sacrifice, so that we might be transformed from a single grain of God’s love into a tree of grace and mercy for all whom we meet.

What are the things in our lives which we need to die to in order to produce more fruit for God’s glory? How do sacrifice ourselves for love of God and His children? What fruits have we produced or failed to produce due to our choices?

O Lord, we wish to die to our selves and bear much fruit.

Amen.

Fourth Saturday of Lent

So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.”

Jesus speaks the truth with authority. He tells us not what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. He offers us the Living Word of God in himself. All we have to do is listen and then put his words into action. Throughout the gospels we hear people refer to Jesus’ authority. They recognize his authenticity. He doesn't just tell them the message of God’s Mercy, but shows them through his good works.

Do we listen to the authority of God? Do we reflect His Divine Truth in our lives? When others see us do they recognize us as Christians who speak and act authentically?

O Lord, help us to live authentic Christian lives.

Amen.

Fourth Friday of Lent

You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.

It is important for us to remember God has sent us into the world. Just like Jesus, we find our source in the Lord. There is a purpose to our lives beyond mere survival and worldly success. He sent us into the world to be reflections of His Divine Image and shine with the light of His Love, Mercy, and Grace. All of our good works come from Him and without Him we could do nothing.

How do we remind ourselves of the one who sent us? What purpose do we have in God’s Divine Plan? What is the best way for us to know, love, and serve God and His Children?

O Lord, send us into the world to do your will.

Amen.

Fourth Wednesday of Lent

I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

Jesus is always seeking to do the Father's Will. His judgments, his works, his words. They all flow from the Father, have their source in God Almighty. His relationship with the Father is at the center of his every action and is made manifest by the Holy Spirit. His very being constantly points to the One God who sent him. In the same way, our lives should always point back to our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. We must become the embodiment of all that is His Will. We should do nothing on our own, whether at work or at play. God should be there with us, remembered and evoked and thanked.

Do we realize that we can do nothing without God? How can we learn to seek God's Will and not our own? In what ways are we living up to our calling to be messengers of God's Love and Mercy?

O Lord, we can do nothing without you.

Amen.

Fourth Tuesday of Lent

“Do you want to be well?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.

Jesus asks all of us if we want to be healed of our sins and how we answer determines whether or not we are. Some of us are too self-centered or stubborn to ask for help. We think we can take care of everything ourselves. However, we should remember that we cannot heal ourselves. Every time we attempt to do so we are like the sick man before Jesus comes to him. We see a possible solution and clamber after it only to discover it is another roadblock. We must be willing to listen for God’s saving question, "Do you want to be well?" If we do, then we need to answer Him and be willing to do whatever He tells us to do. When we do trust the Lord and follow his commandments, we rise up healed of our afflictions.

Do we want to be well? If so, then what is God asking us to do? What are the problems in our lives which distract us from the offer of salvation, which God gives us each day?

O Lord, we want to be well. Heal us.

Amen.

Fourth Monday of Lent

Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe… You may go; your son will live.

Persistence pays off when it comes to swaying God to help us. The royal official could have heard the first words of Jesus and become timid or frightened to ask him for help. However, his love for his son and his faith in Jesus prompts him to ask again and he is rewarded with his heart’s desire. Sometimes when we ask for things they don’t come to us right away and we start wondering if God is listening to us. We work and pray in worldly time, while God works in his own. He knows when, where, and how to answer our prayers so that we have the best chance at the salvation of our soul. We can learn a lot about how to be a faithful follower of God by looking at the reaction of the royal official. When Jesus says your son will live, he believes him and immediately starts back home. He is persistent, but he also knows how to trust the Word of God. Other people might have insisted Jesus come with them, not trusting him. We should make sure that in our persistence we do not become so set on what we think God should do for us that we forget to trust Him and let Him do it His Way.

Do we really need signs and wonders to believe in God? What are the simple everyday things in our lives which remind us that God is always listening to us? Do we have the trusting persistence we need to ask God for what we need and then let Him provide it to us according to His Providence?

O Lord, help us to believe your word and live.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Whereas Moses raised the serpent in the desert in order to heal those bitten by the serpents in the desert, Jesus healed us of the spiritual poison of sin through the sacrifice of his passion, death, and resurrection. He is raised up before us on the cross for all to see and be saved. All we have to do to have eternal life is turn away from worldly things and gaze up to him with adoring eyes. He is our symbol of faith, hope, and love. He is the sign of God's Love, Mercy, and Grace. He is the paragon of a life lived in knowing, loving, and serving others.

When we suffer physical or spiritual trials do we look up to our Lord and Savior? When we look at the cross what truths do we see there? How are we signs of God's everlasting life for others?

O Lord, you were lifted up on the cross for our sake, let us look upon you and believe.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Lent

I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

One of the ways the Devil attacks pious people is by convincing them of their own righteousness. There is nothing wrong with being righteous in the sense of doing the right thing, but when we start pointing out to others how right we are, then there is a problem. When we exalt ourselves we set ourselves up for a fall. Instead, we should be humble like the tax collector and constantly asking mercy for our sins, which are more numerous than even we know.

Have we treated anyone else as if we were better than them? How do we humble ourselves each day? Do we constantly ask for mercy from our Father?

O Lord, we humble ourselves before you.

Amen.

Third Friday of Lent

The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength… You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Love is the key to the commandments God has given us all. Our Lord asks us to open our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths for him and all His children. This request reveals the need for love to be a choice of our entire being. We cannot love others halfway. We either do or do not love them. We are also reminded in these commandments of the need to love ourselves as well. We need to love ourselves in light of God’s love for us in order to be able to live lives of Christian charity in regard to others. Just as there are three persons in Our One God, so too there are three persons we need to love in our lives: God, others, and ourselves.

How do we express our love for our God? Our neighbors? Ourselves?

O Lord, we love you, help us to love others and ourselves in light of that love.

Amen.

Third Thursday of Lent

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.

There are some people in this world who always look for the dark lining in the clouds or are never satisfied. We can perform all manner of good deeds and they will find some fault with us. We can speak the truth and they will ask for some sign that we are right. This is what Jesus faced in his opponents. They would always find some reason to complain or to ask for more. They are not satisfied with what Jesus is offering them and so they belittle and misuse him. We should always be on guard against falling into the traps of finding fault with others or asking God to prove Himself to us through signs. Instead, we should be thankful for the good works we see others do and accept that God has a plan that will see us to heaven if we are willing to follow the only sign we will ever need… Jesus on the Cross!

Are we like the people who celebrate and are amazed at Jesus' good works? Or are we like those who complain or seek more signs? How can we resist these temptations and fully trust in God?

Amen.

Third Wednesday of Lent

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.

Jesus fulfills the law and prophets through his Gospel and sacrifice. The law and prophets were necessary before Jesus, because mankind needed them. However, Christ completes them through his priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission to the world. His words build upon the law and transfigure it into the Gospel message we have today. His actions complete the foreseen future of the prophets. This is why we as Christians do not depend merely upon the law or prophets of the Jewish people. We give them due acknowledgement, but there is something more than the law and the prophets in Christ. He calls us to follow his Way, Truth, and Life and in order to do that we must look past the letter of the law and the signs of the prophets to the spirit of the law and the sign of our salvation.

Do we live our lives according to the spirit of the Gospels? Do we focus our every thought, word, and work on the goal of saving souls, including our own? What are the sacrifices we are willing to make to follow God’s commandments?

O Lord, we want to fulfill your Gospel message and become prophets of your love.

Amen.

Third Tuesday of Lent

“Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.”

When Peter asks how many times he must forgive his brother, he is asking a question we probably ask ourselves in regard to family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers. If we are sinned against, it wounds us. The closer we are to the sinner the more difficult it can be to forgive, especially if it is a grave matter. Sometimes our relationships with others are so poisoned we can hardly look at the person. However, Jesus requires us to forgive others, even those most difficult to forgive. If Judas had sought out Jesus’ forgiveness after betraying the Son of Man with a kiss, Jesus would have had mercy on him.

Would we be able to forgive a person who betrayed us in such a way as Judas? If not, then how can we get to that point of forgiveness with that person? Do we actually forgive others or do we just say we do and then bring up their failings later?

O Lord, give us the ability to forgive those who sin against us.

Amen.

Third Monday of Lent

Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.

Sometimes our family and friends do not accept our faith. They know us better than most people and yet that knowledge clouds their opinion of us (and our opinion of them). They might see us trying to become better Christians and they don’t understand it. They know our sinfulness and they point it out to us in such a way to make us wonder if we’re fooling ourselves. They tell us: Why are you wasting your time on prayer? Why are you trying to be someone you’re not? Isn't there something else you’d rather be doing than going to Church? Not all of us have these people around, but for those of us who do, it is a constant struggle to keep living the Christian faith when family and friends don’t live it themselves. We should remember that we are not here on earth just for them. We are here to do God’s Will and sometimes that means leaving our native place in order to fulfill our mission to the world.

Who are the people (not necessarily family or friends) in our lives who challenge our faith? How do we handle having our beliefs challenged? Do we offer up our trials for the reparation of sins and the conversion of sinners?

O Lord, we do not seek to be accepted by anyone else, but you.

Amen.

Third Sunday of Lent

Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Like the woman at the well, we are thirsty for more than just water. We thirst for eternal life too. We have physical and spiritual needs in our lives and if we tend to one and not the other problems arise. If we satisfy our bodies, but not our spirits, we become empty husks with no life in us. Sure we survive, we might even appear healthy, but everything we have lacks meaning. On the other hand, if we tend to our spirits, but not the flesh and blood God gave us, our bodies wither and die. If we are mystics graced with the ability to subsist on the Bread of Life alone, then this is a great grace, but most of us need to take care of the temples God has given us. By taking care of our bodies we are better able to know, love, and serve God and his children.

Are we thirsty for eternal life? What are we doing to ensure we satisfy not only our physical needs, but our spiritual ones? How are we a spring of eternal life for others?

O Lord, lead us to your spring of eternal life.

Amen.

Second Saturday of Lent

Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.

We share a lot in common with the prodigal and older son in today’s gospel. We have taken the gifts and talents God has given us and squandered them. Some of are like the older brother. We waste our abilities a little at a time, here and there. We hardly notice the missed opportunities to do more than just what is required of us. We think obedience is enough, but it is not. Doing God’s Will requires self-sacrifice and humility. However, others of us are like the prodigal son. We blind ourselves to the good with our desire for worldly things. We let our physical wants guide us away from our spiritual needs. We starve on a lack of charity toward God, others, and ourselves. We have no harvest to tend to because we have not taken the time to purchase the seeds through sacrifice or plant them with love. However, the Father is always there for us, hoping we too will come to our senses and return to him like the prodigal son or realize that everything is ours like the elder one.

In what ways are we like the prodigal son? Do we identify with the jealousy of the elder son? How can we learn from both of these men and grow in our relationship with God, our father?

O Lord, help us to come to our senses and to know everything you have is ours.

Amen.